the pacific rim
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pacific rim infoTRANSCRIPT
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The Pacific Rim
• The term Pacific Rim refers to 20 countries/ administrative units along the Asian side of the pacific Rim.
• It also includes numerous islands of the Pacific.
• They home 30% of world’s population and 20% of world’s GNP.
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The Pacific Rim• Geographically one can include Mexico, Chile, Canada, USA,
Russia.
• Geographically Myanmar(Burma) and Laos can be excluded.
• The selection of the countries stem from the fairly recent developments in economic and geographical power that have affected countries of Asia, South-east Asia and the Pacific .
• The regions included are now being referred to by international corporate and political leaders as a single block.
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The Pacific Rim
• Many countries in questions share similar cultural influences such Buddhism and rice cultivation.
• Culturally, politically and sociologically diverse region
• But there is a new trend where the entire Pacific Rim will share:– a common economic system (free market/state
capitalism) – and some common lifestyle values (materialism and mass
consumption)
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The Pacific Rim
• Common awareness of the value of peaceful interdependence – steady improvement in the standard of living
• What are the powerful forces that are fueling these trends?– Nationalism and global communications– Japanese currency (yen) and Japanese business
strategies
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Japan & The Pacific Rim• Japanese aid and investment• Post WW II (1960s)- high quality products to
North American & European markets
• 1980s- free trade agreements among North American countries & common European economic community (economic blocs)
• Led Japan to heavily invest in countries nearer its own borders.
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Troubles in the RIM• Social & political instability of many Pacific Rim nations &
intense ethnic rivalries divided the people.(The Nation 9 Jan 1989)
Civil only
Civil/international
Religious/ethnic
UN involvement
Superpower involved
Estimated total deaths
Myanmar * 6000 since 1985
Cambodia * * * 2.2 million since 1970
China- Tibet * 1.2 million since 1956
Indonesia- East Timor
* * * 1 lakh since 1975
Philippines * * * 35,000 since 1972
Vietnam * * 4.5 million (1945-1975)
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Troubles in the RIM – (a) Warfare
• Outlawed Khmer Rouge – guerrilla war against elected govt of Cambodia
• Japan- Russia dispute over ownership of islands to the north of Hokkaido
• Taiwan- China issue over territory• Vietnam- China dispute over boundary• Issue between South Korea & North Korea
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Troubles in the RIM – (a) Warfare
• Concern over the area of the South China sea– Likelihood of large oil deposits near the rocks &
reefs of the Spartly islands – 1970s– China, Taiwan, Vietnam, Philippines, Malaysia,
Brunei – claiming the area– China Vs Vietnam– China claiming sovereignty over almost the entire
South China sea.
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Troubles in the RIM – (a) Warfare
• Ethnic tensions– Fiji- locals Vs immigrant Indians– South Asia – locals vs. the Chinese
Muslims Vs Christians– China – the Tibetans & most other ethnic
groups Vs. the Han Chinese
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Troubles in the RIM – (a) Warfare• With the end of cold war U.S was forced to withdraw
its naval base from Vietnam and Philippines
• Thus encouraged Japan to assume larger military role in the region.
• Japan has acted to increase its military preparedness
• In response China has also increased its purchase of military equipment
• Some largest armies in the world are in the Pacific Rim.
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Troubles in the RIM – (a) Warfare• The tragedy of warfare could continue unless governments
manage conflict carefully.• In some cases mutual cooperation is already replacing animosity.
• Thailand and Vietnam- sincerely trying to resolve fishing rights disputes in the Gulf of Thailand.
• North and South Korea have agreed to allow some cross border visitation.
• Taiwan and China have also settled issues relating to fisheries.
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(b) Overpopulation
• There are well over 2 billion people living in the Pacific Rim.
• China - most populous
• Efforts from Chinese government to control population through strictest family planning policies in the world.
• In some countries like Japan, South Korea and Thailand, single child families and aging population are creating problems.
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(b) Overpopulation• Still, so many children have already been born that pacific
Rim governments simply cannot meet their needs.
• As the population density increases, the quality of life decreases.
• Population density - New York City (1,100 per square mile) – Tokyo (2,400) – Manila (51,000)
• Demographers predict that world’s largest cities will be in Pacific Rim.
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(c ) Political Instability
• People challenging the very right of their govts to rule – demand for change in political philosophy
• Cambodia- govt installed by the military of Vietnam; • Opposition groups armed with sophisticated weapons
donated by foreign nations• Authoritarian govt. in South Korea, China, Myanmar
• Military Coup attempts in Philippines, Thailand, Fiji• Military takeovers, political assassinations & repressive
policies has been the norm of the region…
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(c ) Political Instability
• Diversity of language, religions, racial and ethnic origin, unfair distribution of wealth
• Educated well fed Vs illiterate & malnourished
• All are afraid that their particular language/religion/ethnic group/ social class will be negatively affected by any leader not of their own background.
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(d) Identity Confusion
• Confusion about personal and national identity.
• Creation of nation-states in response to Western pressure as against tribe/ethnic group
• Change in political boundaries- ethnic groups from adjacent countries inside the neighbour’s territory.
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Identity Confusion
• Years of influence from the colonial era- unsure of roots: European/ Asian Pacific
• People in Singapore, Hong Kong and the Pacific Islands unsure of their root/identity
• Indonesia: Muslim country- 87% muslims; North Sumatra (30% Protestant); Bali (94 % Hindu); East Timor (49% Catholic & 51% animist)
• Philippines: 88 languages; 12 islands
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(e) Uneven Economic Development
• Strong disparity (Japan Vs Laos)• Japanese saving – $45,000 per person • Laotians struggling for square meal
• Developed nations with economic sustainability- Japan- exporting 1/3 of its products to US
• Japanese – Buddhists – now interested in profit maximization.
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Uneven Economic Development
• Korea, Taiwan, Singapore – successfully searching for more ways to make money
• Pacific islands lagging further behind
• Newly Industrializing Countries (NICs) South Korea (ship building, steel manufacturing) , Taiwan (camera, calculator), Hong Kong
• Taiwan – Highest GNP in the world for past 20 years
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Uneven Economic Development
• Resource-rich developing nations- Full of natural resources – held back economically by political and cultural instability
• Example: Malaysia – endowed with tropical forests and large oil and gas reserve – ruled by coalition government – nearly a dozen race based parties
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Uneven Economic Development• Post 1978 – Japan started investing in Malaysia –
More than 3000 companies doing business – one of the world’s large exporters
• Command Economies - lag far behind – inefficiency of the system – military dictatorship – continual warfare
• Significant changes taking place in such nations• Ex: China and Vietnam
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Uneven Economic Development
• Less Developed Countries (LDCs) – small micro states in the Pacific region – limited resource – tiny internal market
• Ex: Papua New Guinea – recently got independence – searching for proper role in the world economy.
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Environmental Destruction and Social ills
• Malaysia/Indonesia - Rapid development – loss of pristine forest
• Malaysia – cutting trees to satisfy the demands of the international market
• – especially Japan• -Forests are disappearing at a rate of 3% a year
• Hydroelectric dam construction in other Asian countries – seriously affecting natural environment
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Environmental Destruction and Social ills
• In Asia – serious disease like AIDS spreading rapidly
• In 1994 – Thai Govt. reported that by 1997 2.4 millions of Thai’s will be HIV-positive.
• According to sources, by 2008, 5,85,830 people have died of this since 1984.
• WHO reported that AIDS is growing fast in Asia and Africa than anywhere else in the world.